Women Amateur Filmmakers in Britain: Fun on Film

From the archive

This film was last shown on 1 August 2016

The Women in Amateur Filmmakers in Britain collection contains over 140 films by women amateur filmmakers produced between the 1920s and 1980s that have been uncovered and digitised by the East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA), part of the University of East Anglia. Although largely overlooked until recently, women were centrally involved in amateur filmmaking over the last 90 years, and these films celebrate the creative role they have played. These filmmakers produced an impressive variety of films, including drama, comedy, animation, documentaries and travelogues.

SALLY SALLIES FORTH (1928) FRANCES LASCOT (26 MINS 52S)

The worlds of upstairs and downstairs collide in this silent comedy* heralded as the first amateur film produced entirely by women. When Sally (Sadie Andrews) takes a job as a waitress at a garden party, the society ladies see potential in the clumsy and hapless heroine and work to uncover her talent. Sally is prodded and poked as the guests try to turn her into a lady but their efforts are in vain and Sally realises this lifestyle isn’t for her after all.

*Please note that this film does not contain a musical score.

FURTHER OUTLOOK UNSETTLED! (1938) LAURIE AND STUART DAY (11 MINS 59s)

Laurie and Stuart Day produce and star in this domestic comedy about a husband and wife with very different ideas about how to spend their weekend as they attempt to settle their differences in the most typically British manner – with a cup of tea.

MAKE-UP (1978) JOANNA FRYER (2 MINS 40s)

Long before Bridget Jones, female filmmakers have explored the fantasies and realities of the dating game. In this comical animation, a woman carefully applies her make-up while day-dreaming about the variety of handsome suitors who might arrive at her door. Can the reality ever live up to her fantasies?

THE CAT AND THE TUNE (1977) SHEILA GRABER (2 MINS 29s)

A flute-playing cat is joined by an orchestra of colourful characters in this short film by the award-winning animator, Sheila Graber.

MAGNUM OPUS (1981) MOLLIE BUTLER (3 MINS 9s)

The charming story of a disabled musical note – a semi-breve with two left feet – who is ridiculed and stared at. That is until the members of the orchestra tell the composer to ‘change his tune’. When money is raised for a wheelchair, the semi-breve is able to take his place in the symphony. The film was created for the International Year of Disabled People to highlight the importance of accessibility and the inclusion of disabled people within society